Analytics solution provides insight into hybrid access network A Tier 1 communications service provider monitors its hybrid access network with R&S®INTRA.

IP TRAFFIC ANALYTICS

2

Challenges & solutions

Summary

Business areaA Tier 1 CSP that manages complex networks with a varying subscriber and reseller base and also offers their proprietary over-the-top services.

ChallengeManaging a heterogeneous network with mobile and land line hybrid access and gaining greater real-time business insights in order to make informed decisions about product development, services and network planning.

SolutionThe CSP deployed R&S®INTRA, a network traffic analytics solution based on the IP probe R&S®Net Sensor and the central analytics and storage system R&S®Net Reporter. R&S®Net Reporter is powered by the deep packet inspection (DPI) engine R&S®PACE 2.

Traffic analytics benefitsR&S®INTRA enables CSPs to launch an efficient network and service analytics strategy based on real network usage and application performance. These insights lay the foundation for a sustainable operating model.

A Tier 1 communications service provider (CSP) efficiently operates networks with R&S®INTRA.

ChallengeLarge CSPs manage complex networks with different types of access technologies and varying subscriber and reseller base. Monitoring a hybrid network demands in-depth traffic flow analysis to create an insightful picture.

SolutionBy deploying the intelligent network traffic analytics solution R&S®INTRA by Rohde & Schwarz, the Tier 1 CSP gained in-sights into their subscribers’ behavior and obtained a deep-er understanding of the dynamics of the monitored network in the context of mobile/fixed line data offloading.

High performance DPI engineThe IP probe R&S®Net Sensor is based on the high-perfor-mance DPI engine R&S®PACE2 developed in-house by Rohde & Schwarz. It reports on the complete protocol stack from layer 3 (e.g. IPv4 and IPv6) to layer 7 (e.g. HTTP, DNS and SIP) up to application level (e.g. Facebook, YouTube, Google Play). Using this in-depth analysis, R&S®Net Sensor extracts classification information and counters from the traffic, being aware of tunnels, labels and control protocols (e.g. PPPoE, VLAN, MPLS, L2TP and GTP).

Hybrid access traffic monitoringFor household customers that need a boost in their access data rates in spite of physical inaccessibility and limited land line capacity, the CSP offers the possibility to connect to the internet using both the land line and the LTE connec-tion. When the provided land line capacity is reached, the hybrid access gateway automatically offers added connec-tivity via the LTE modem. For quality of experience (QoE) assurance as well as for network monitoring purposes, the operator needs to validate the traffic distribution for such customers. R&S® INTRA helps the operator to quantify and validate the type of connections, applications and protocols that are directed via the land line connection and to get analytics about data offloading.

Versatility of extracted dataR&S®INTRA seamlessly integrates with existing data processing infrastructures. Valuable information can be transferred, adding new dimensions to the big picture. Information provided by R&S®INTRA allows identifying: ❙ Granular bandwidth consumption and spikes in consumption per application, protocol, type of subscriber, line mapped in time

❙ Existing and emerging online habits per type of contract (available data rate)

❙ Technical statistics about bandwidth, peaks and overall data consumption for the reseller lines

The large amount and high diversity of the collected data makes R&S®INTRA deployable both as an independent re-porting platform and as a deep data source for third party processing systems.

Rohde & Schwarz Analytics solution provides insight into hybrid access network 3

Deployment of R&S®INTRA in a hybrid network

Added benefits of R&S®INTRA

❙ Highly customizable and flexible ❙ Standalone analytics system or aggregator for a big data system

❙ In-house development with technically leading deep packet inspection (DPI) engine and open reporting API

Traffic analytics system setup

❙ Network probes: R&S®Net Sensor powered by DPI engine R&S®PACE 2

❙ Analytics and storage system: R&S®Net Reporter+ ❙ Monitoring bandwidth: 240 Gbps of traffic ❙ Seamless integration with several third-party analytics systems

BenefitsDeploying R&S®INTRA allows CSPs to: ❙ Make profitable decisions on how to monetize new services

❙ Gather relevant data for informed strategic decisions about the network and products

❙ Better plan, validate and optimize network technologies and services

❙ Utilize live network data for accurate and efficient troubleshooting

❙ Improve customer loyalty and minimize churn rates

ResultAs R&S®INTRA proved its value in delivering vital reports and information, the setup has been extended and now covers reporting interfaces for the following departments: Network Management, Strategic Network Planning, Ser-vice Delivery, Product Management and Customer Man-agement. We are planning further roll-outs of the traffic analytics solution to add capacity and functionalities, such as quality of service (QoS) analysis.

Site D

“Using data from R&S®INTRA enabled us to identify the increase of subscriber interest towards services like Netflix, YouTube and Twitch.tv in time and helps us create efficient strategies to proactively respond. It also helped us validate and monitor new technologies and services, like various access level LTE/Fixed-Line traffic offloading and over-the-top offers, like our own VoIP and entertainment platforms. We are better prepared to make informed decisions about further capacity and traffic planning and will shortly introduce new dynamic traffic QoS monitoring capabilities.”Product Manager, Tier 1 CSP

Traffic

Third party integration data

Metadata/reported traffic

Extracted traffic

SGW DSLAM

Aggregator

BNG(BRAS)

PGW

Load balancing

R&S®Net Sensor

R&S®Net Sensor

R&S®Net Sensor

R&S®Net Reporter+

3rd partyprocessing External data

S5/S8

Site A

Site B

Site C

4G network DSL/cable

ISP core

3606

.725

3.32

02.

02 P

DP

1 e

n

ipoque GmbH

A Rohde & Schwarz Company

Augustusplatz 9, 04109 Leipzig

Info: +49 (0)341 59403 0

Email: info.ipoque@rohde-schwarz.com

www.ipoque.com

Rohde & Schwarz GmbH & Co. KG

www.rohde-schwarz.com

R&S® is a registered trademark of Rohde & Schwarz GmbH & Co. KG

Trade names are trademarks of the owners

PD 3606.7253.32 | Version 02.02 | April 2019

Analytics solution provides insight into hybrid access network

Data without tolerance limits is not binding | Subject to change

© 2019 Rohde & Schwarz GmbH & Co. KG | 81671 Munich, Germany

© 2019 ipoque GmbH | 04109 Leipzig, Germany

3606725332